I’m a nickel and dime spender, and boy can it add up. So, I just received a free Good Housekeeping magazine in the mail, with an offer to subscribe for $7.77 for one year. Free tote bag, too. Well, I almost did it, as that’s really cheap. I used to subscribe to GH for several years and really liked it. But, a few years before I let it lapse they changed the format and I just flipped through it at that point. I really was going to subscribe again, and thought no…this is one of my bad habits. So, I threw the offer away, although it was hard…at that price.
Ugh. Hit a giant pothole this AM and am looking at $400 fix.
Oh well, good thing I saved so much money this month not buying stuff
I laugh that when my H spends money it’s a big purchase, but I spend a little a lot. One of my relatives was complaining how much her SO spends when IMO she spends a ton too. But since it’s $20 at a time, it doesn’t seem like a lot. Like you say @conmama, those little purchases add up.
@OHMomof2, I hate those purchases.
Supposedly you can file a claim with the state or city to get reimbursed for pothole damage but have never heard of anyone succeeding.
Sigh, just printed my year end statements from credit cards so I could check for taxes. Rededicating myself to this effort! We eat out a lot. We need to do more home meals in that instapot.
So I hear. I also hear it’s very likely not worth my time
Ok…sort of fell off the wagon…which is easy for me to do because I volunteer at this charity thrift store!
I bought a 4x6 oriental style rug for $24 for my front hall. It is awesome…and a darker color than what I had. I really could not wait until Feb…because someone else’s would have purchased this one!
Anyway…it’s a bargain.
@deb922, I actually put a clearance purse in my cart at Nordstrom Rack, but I didn’t get it. It was a nice plain gray bag. Unfortunately, the one I really like is this years model and NOT on sale anywhere. I’m told Macy’s will have a sale that will likely include Coach next month, so I’m holding off. I did send the link to my husband though, and it’s my birthday next week…
I actually need to do some shopping but hate trying on clothes.
@thumper1 – a bargain like that is a “need” not a " want". If it fits in your long range goals.
I know 'cause I let a rug like that go several years ago and kicked myself ever since.
Learned my lesson then.
Years later at an estate sale I bought a huge rug for 400 bucks (which was scary) but I’d been looking and totally loved the colors. (Found out afterwards that I could have bought a similar one on e-bay for 3K)
So since February is almost over, how did the month go for you?
I did pretty good. I wasn’t perfect but I expected that. I cut back on a lot of mindless spending and thought (mostly) a lot before buying something. The exception was the purse, that was an impulse buy. I didn’t spend any time thinking about it, there was that 20% clear the racks, which was expiring. I clicked buy!
I didn’t buy any makeup, which definitely is an impulse buy for me. I did go through the makeup I do own and organized it. Threw away a bunch of old makeup. I sent a couple of care packages, which were things I wasn’t using. I went to target twice and stuck to my list. Didn’t buy anything other than food and cleaning supplies.
There are still days that are hard. This weekend being one. The weather wasn’t great and my H worked all weekend. It’s very easy to scroll the internet and buy stuff I don’t need. I didn’t buy anything, which is a big step. Other than the purse and an amazon purchase which was household items, that was it for online purchases.
Only a couple of returns also and they were purchases from January.
So it went pretty good. I’m going to continue for the month of March. If you want to join me, I could use the support.
And thanks for being here.
I’m in, for continuing in March.
Your thread did remind me to think longer about purchases in general. I also cleaned out drawers, cabinets, and closets before making additional purchases. I did fairly well this month and will try to keep it up.
Way to go Deb - not only your personal story but pulling us in on it. I would also like to continue in March - just to strengthen the habit. I like feeling more conscious of my spending and found that I appreciated any purchase more because it wasn’t just one of many.
I think I did pretty well. This weekend I REALLY wanted a browsing trip at TJ Maxx and HomeGoods. Taking an hour at each store is such a relaxing, enjoyable treat for me. But it was a pretty busy weekend and I never got there. Took care of other tasks first - and never had time to go.
I will say I’m ready to NOT buy any winter clothing - BUT I know that spring/summer stuff will be tempting me!
I did NOT take advantage of the ancestry.com special for DNA analysis, whoo hoo! That was hard.
I’d love to do March. I did well, but mostly because I couldn’t get out too much to be tempted. So, March and April will be my self control months. The only thing I bought was the AHA lotion. I haven’t bought stuff unless I was out of it, and just walked by makeup aisles. I think spring clothing will be a tough one. I think what will be the best is to wait until I pull everything out and then decide what I needs to fill be supplemented, rather than impulse buy… This has been a great exercise and I do enjoy feeling like I have more discipline.
I agree with everyone here - this has been a really great opportunity to think mindfully about the difference between need and want. I have not purchased anything other than food and one skincare item I ran out of for the entire month. As a matter of fact, I was in two stores yesterday shopping with my D for something for her to wear to a black tie fundraiser and I can’t say I was even tempted to shop for me. I think the lower than usual credit card bills have been incredibly motivating, as has the experience of thinking carefully about every purchase. I suspect I will think differently going forward when the need to update my wardrobe, my house, or pretty much anything else arises. To be honest though, it has not curtailed our habit of eating out, alone or with friends or our kids. That is an indulgence, yes, but it is an integral part of our lives and while I do cook at home on a regular basis, I would rather eat out than buy another sweater!
I made it through the month without buying the coat I thought I needed. Mostly because the one I wanted got sold off the sale rack!
And now that I am going through tax season and realizing I am going to owe a bunch of taxes, both business and personal, that coat is going to have to wait
I am in for March as well. Did okay but not sure how much lower the credit card bill will be due to purchasing of items needed for a summer trip. The weather there requires more winter-ish attire and with it all on clearance we have made some of those purchases. The mindful part was only buying what was on clearance and really thinking about what we already have that will fill a need vs just defaulting to buying new. I am keeping a list of those purchases so we at least know the true cost of the trip.
I am in for March as well. Did okay but not sure how much lower the credit card bill will be due to purchasing of items needed for a summer trip. The weather there requires more winter-ish attire and with it all on clearance we have made some of those purchases. The mindful part was only buying what was on clearance and really thinking about what we already have that will fill a need vs just defaulting to buying new. I am keeping a list of those purchases so we will at least know the true cost of the trip.